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Households bills have jumped by almost double the rate of inflation over the last ten years, a study has found.

The cost of such expenses increased by 71 per cent between 2001 and 2011, with electricity bills doubling and gas bills trebling in price, according to a study by Santander.

Carlos Palacios, banking director at Santander, said: "Times are tough for a lot of people at the moment and increasing household bills are one of the biggest causes of squeezed consumer finances."

Mr Palacios added that, in order to cope with the increases in cost, people have been forced to make a number of adjustments to their lifestyles.

However, some of these changes can be easy to make and cost-effective, with figures from the National Insulation Association claiming that roughly £700 million could be saved by residents if they install cavity wall insulation.

The group also suggested that nearly four million tonnes of CO2 would be reduced over  a year.